[Hugh]

I remember that real well.

What a shame since the 5000 was an excellent car.

Those of us with a few years on us will remember the Audi 5000 sudden acceleration mess in the late '80s. The Audi pedals were slightly offset and a few people mistook the gas and brake pedals. When they floored the gas, thinking it was the brake, panic insued and a number of accidents happened. Drivers claimed the car was accelerating at top speed, throttle wide open, in spite of them pushing the brakes as hard as they could. Then the lawyers came out of the wood work. The automotive press (the enthusiast press anyway) weighed in to testify that there was no way that particular car could over run it's brakes and it had to be driver error. Then the Feds got involved and the U.S. Department of Transportation drew the same conclusion. You'd think that would settle the matter but it didn't. Audi, somewhat like Toyota, handled the PR very badly at first and the main stream media decided, in spite of the clear evidence of driver error, to crucify Audi. The 5000, an excellent car, was taken off the market and Audi themselves abandoned the U.S. market for a number of years. This created a lot of economic hardship but the media remain smug and self righteous over the whole thing. The most influential outlet was CBS's Sixty Minutes which did a hatchet job making Audi look like a horribly guilty bunch of villains in spite of the facts to the contrary. Virtually anyone who knew anything about cars knew immediately that CBS was blowing smoke. Nonetheless, they have never recanted and years later Morley Safer, a car guy himself, would only submit to an interview with a major car mag if they agreed not to bring up the subject.

Personally, although I didn't own an Audi, I protested the most effective way I could. I quit watching Sixty Minutes all together and, to this day, I leave the room when it comes on. They have zero credibility in my book and I will not patronize their advertisers if I can avoid them.

[Outofthewoods]

You guys are great. That's one of the reasons I like it here. AC is full of good people.

You get what you give.

Anything new to report?

[dlynch34]

Paypal wouldn't do anything because they said that a payment towards something is intangible.

Danny,

If this transaction occurred on EBAY they do  have a buyers protection program.  http://pages.motors.ebay.com/buy/purchase-protection/index.html  I have used the program on several items and was refunded 100 percent.  The idea is they put a freeze on the sellers account and once you return the item you get refunded the whole transaction.  It sounds like it might be too late in your case this time but for future reference I would utilize their program. It does work.

[Danny Richie]

You get what you give.

Anything new to report?

I filed a complaint with the Texas DOT. They had two other complaints filed on him already. This one was the one that broke the camels back. Looks like his dealers license will be revoked over this one.

[Hank]

Looks like his dealers license will be revoked over this one.

  "Vengence is mine, sayeth..."  Looks like this guy dug his own grave.

[Cheeseboy]

Did you find an electric car to buy yet?  I'm working on a whole new line of electric scooters.

[Danny Richie]

Did you find an electric car to buy yet?  I'm working on a whole new line of electric scooters.

Not yet. I am still looking.

[mgalusha]

Not yet. I am still looking.

Porsche 918 

Yeah, I know it's not pure electric but what fun when you don't want to be green. 'Course it will be horrifically expensive but one can want, can they not?

[HT cOz]

Retro beckspeedster.com/electricconversions.html 

[werd]

Not yet. I am still looking.

Are you looking for tube or transistor?

[some young guy]

Are you looking for tube or transistor?

[Savage]

I'd really be worried about the smear campaign. Everybody believes anything a used car salesman says.

OJ killed two people, and he still has a lot of friends. Most people who look into feedback, are used to seeing some crazy negative stuff that is completely counter to what the vast majority have to say. You don't have a Heisman trophy and superbowl rings, so don't go killing anybody, but we would be able to forgive a lot with the speaker designs you have brought so reasonably to market.

So you've done your due diligence, now forget about it. You could spend a couple hundred more on having a lawyer draft a letter, and you'll just be out another couple hundred dollars more. Life lessons usually cost a lot of money, at least you're not out the full amount. I think it's cool the Texas DOT is actually going to do something about it, usually in a situation like this, you just have to walk away without satisfaction. If not monetary, at least you have the satisfaction that he will be prevented from screwing the next person. The quicker you get over it, the sooner you'll forget it. Focussing on negativity tends to make people negative. Focus back on something good and you'll be surprised at how much better you'll feel.

[jtwrace]

I'd really be worried about the smear campaign. Everybody believes anything a used car salesman says.

OJ killed two people, and he still has a lot of friends. Most people who look into feedback, are used to seeing some crazy negative stuff that is completely counter to what the vast majority have to say. You don't have a Heisman trophy and superbowl rings, so don't go killing anybody, but we would be able to forgive a lot with the speaker designs you have brought so reasonably to market.

So you've done your due diligence, now forget about it. You could spend a couple hundred more on having a lawyer draft a letter, and you'll just be out another couple hundred dollars more. Life lessons usually cost a lot of money, at least you're not out the full amount. I think it's cool the Texas DOT is actually going to do something about it, usually in a situation like this, you just have to walk away without satisfaction. If not monetary, at least you have the satisfaction that he will be prevented from screwing the next person. The quicker you get over it, the sooner you'll forget it. Focussing on negativity tends to make people negative. Focus back on something good and you'll be surprised at how much better you'll feel.

WOW!  You joined so this could be your first post?   

[dBe]

WOW!  You joined so this could be your first post?   

+1

On the topic of smears, I have some experience        .  It sucks - BUT - in the end your good reputation will win out, especially when people figure out that this guy is a huckster.

Screw him and forge on, my Brother.

Dave

[Savage]

Well I'd like my second post to exceed my first, but I think I set the bar too high.

What, nobody can take a joke over here? If it'll help, I can use one of those smiley emoticons so everyone will know when I'm not entirely serious.

Yeah, I know, I'm one of those crazy people that doesn't believe that OJ is on a qwest for the "real killers" at any of his local golf courses. Him and his crack foursome of investigators.

I own and have owned a number of Danny's products. I was going to comment on his killer sale on X components right now, but funds are tight, so I commented where he was looking for nothing other than his customer's moral support. Hell at the prices of Danny's products, you don't expect us all to be elitists, do you? Well for the record, I did buy them all used, after all the MLS news came out and people started dumping them like they sounded like schifty acted.

Danny, if you haven't figured it out yet, we are all behind you. Anybody that is going to do their homework enough to find this idiot's smear campaign, will find more than enough info like this which will counteract anything this idiot has to say. I can't believe he's mad at you when you did him a huge favor by reselling his lemon for him. Nobody's going to believe this guy; who's never had a problem with a used car salesman before? And please keep making your excellent products at reasonable prices, even if it means bringing some swag like me into audiophile forums.

Yeah, I just reread my first post-- way funnier.

[Danny Richie]

You're new here and no one knows you yet. So no one knew what to make of your first post to know if you were being serious or kidding.

Stick around and we'll try to get to know you a little better.

[Letitroll98]

Danny, I'm new around here and don't know you, but you seem like a very nice person with a lot of people vouching for you and your problem.  I have to assume you're inexperienced in eBay transactions.  For the newbies there 75-80% positive feedback rating seems high, in actuality it's one of the absolute lowest scores I've ever seen.  That's why some posters mentioned they wouldn't touch this guy with a ten foot pole. 

Secondly, his email to you is a crime in and of itself.  He need do nothing more to be prosecuted, although in reality it would be very rare to find a DA that would press charges over an email with no other actions documented, but it's still a crime.  So as in the OJ case noted rather unfortunately above, this schmuck may get away with the criminal act, but he may be more liable in a tort case.  I would look up the case law in TX on the internet and bring pro se suit in small claims court.  It would cost you nothing but the filing fee and you may very well get more than the $501 you lost back.  In any case best wishes in whatever you pursue with this guy.

[dBe]

Danny, I'm new around here and don't know you, but you seem like a very nice person with a lot of people vouching for you and your problem.  I have to assume you're inexperienced in eBay transactions.  For the newbies there 75-80% positive feedback rating seems high, in actuality it's one of the absolute lowest scores I've ever seen.  That's why some posters mentioned they wouldn't touch this guy with a ten foot pole. 

Secondly, his email to you is a crime in and of itself.  He need do nothing more to be prosecuted, although in reality it would be very rare to find a DA that would press charges over an email with no other actions documented, but it's still a crime.  So as in the OJ case noted rather unfortunately above, this schmuck may get away with the criminal act, but he may be more liable in a tort case.  I would look up the case law in TX on the internet and bring pro se suit in small claims court.  It would cost you nothing but the filing fee and you may very well get more than the $501 you lost back.  In any case best wishes in whatever you pursue with this guy.

I have been harrassed by a former AudioCircle member at my personal email as well as my business email.  I reported him three times to AOL (his IP) and made a report to the Combined Internet Crimes Task Force here in Albuquerque.  AOL did nothing.  The CITF is watching him.  That is about all the response you will get from emails like this.  My guy wished me dead, but stopped short of a threat.  Cowards hide behind keyboards and distance.   

Hang in there, Danny.

Dave

[Savage]

Just don't bother consulting a lawyer on this one, better to just be ripped off by one person at this point.

You could take this to small claims court (at least you would save the lawyer fees), waste another day off, and win a judgement and still never see a dime. Obviously it's your call, but if it was me, I'd probably just chalk it up to a lesson learned. This idiot's not worth any more of your time. If it makes you feel better, go ahead and sue him. Just realize the process and outcome can cause you more grief, and the sooner you forget, the sooner all of this will be over.

I hope at least this thread helps you cope with the situation. You certainly have support here.

[adamaley]

Savage, you tread on dangerous ground when you make besmirching statements like that about a person that was properly tried and acquitted by the law this country has to offer. Jokingly or not. Emotions aside, one has to accept the outcome. Slander, of this sort, is what prompted this thread, and although I have no dealing with GR Research and do not know Danny, I came in to offer encouragement. Policing the internet and not destroying its greatest merits will be one of the biggest challenges of our generation. Danny, put your worries to rest. It will be highly impossible for any newcomer, recently-registered, to be able to come on here and receive any sort of support against you. Even if he was to enlist the help of an already existing account member, judging from the outpouring of support here, he will fail.
Like someone said before me, focus on what you do best and the rest shall take care of itself.

E